Toy chest



'epiA M. 1 B. GREER TOY CHEST 1 Filed oct. 25; 1940 Dec. 30,1941.

N... .A 5 1 v 3% at the end of the recreation period.

Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY CHEST Mary B. Greer, Glencoe, Ill.

Application October 25, 1940, Serial No. 362,751

12 Claims.

This invention has to do with a childs storage chest `for toys and the like and relates more particularly to such a chest that is convertible into other articles of furniture and building structures which are both attractive and useful to children.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a chest which is usable as such and as a living room seat, but which has special utility as a storage space for toys of a character that are normally used in association with structures into which the` chest is convertible.

A further object is the provision of a chest that is convertible into a doll house and miniature stage and which embodies a compartment into which dolls, toy furniture, fixtures, puppets and the like, played with in conjunction with said house and stage, are to be put away by the child Another object of this invention is the provision of a chest as the above manipulatable to form a combination miniature house and stage ture, puppets or other paraphernalia, and in which there is sufficient superstructure for screening the adjustor from stage spectators.

Another object is the provision of a chest embodying miniature garage and stable compartments into which toy vehicles and animals are to be neatly arranged at the conclusion of play, and there being doors usable, when open, as ramps for these compartments.

Another object is the provision of a chest that is further convertible into a childs height easel, a flat top table or desk, or into a seat bench with a back rest.

Another object is th'e provision of a chest or device as the above that is mounted upon running gear to facilitate transporting the same.

A still further object underlying the other objects of the present invention is the provision of novel recreational apparatus especially instrumental in developing the habits of orderliness and neatness in children.

These and other desirable objects inherent to and encompassed by the invention will later appear.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of 3a cabinet structure or device embodying the present invention and set up to be employed selectively as a doll house,`a miniature stage oran easel;

Fig. 2 is a rear'el'evational View of the structure or device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the device with its parts arranged for effecting a seat with a back rest; i

Fig. 4 is `a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the parts arranged for effecting a flat top table; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevationalview illustrating the parts of the device in the closed position.

The same reference characters where appearing in several iigures of the drawing designate the same respective parts.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. l, the device will be seen to comprise end walls IU and II, a back wall I2 and a bottom wallV or floor I3. These walls may be formed of panel members of wood or other sufliciently rigid material and held in fabricatedrelation by any standard fastening means such as nails or screws not shown. The assembly is reenforced by a second floor or wall member I4 in superposed relation with respect to the iloor member I3, the

member I4 being suitably secured to each of the walls I0, II and I2. A front central section of the upper licor member I4 rests upon an upright I5 shown in dotted outline and having its lower end resting upon the floor member I3.

The upper wall of the cabinet or device conssts of a single planar member I6 pivotally attached to an upper edge section of the back wall I2 by means of strap hinges generally designated I'I. Said member I6 is adapted to lie iiatly upon the upper edges of the walls I0, II and` I2 as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The front wall of the device, as illustrated in Fig. 5, is formed of a planar member I 8 which likewise may be made of wood and which is connected with a forward edge section of the top wall member I6 bymeans of hinges Ia. This member I8 is for forming that part of the front wall above the iioor member I4 whereas a similarly shaped member I9 is for forming `that part of the front wall between the licor members I3 and I4. The member I9 is pivotally connected with the iront edge of the floor member I3 by means of strap hinges 20. A tongue or bead 2I along the upper edge of the member I9 provides a groove 22 into which a tongue 23 upon the lower edge of the member I8 is adapted to t when the top I 6 is in the lowered position. Latch means generally designated 24 and having component parts respectively upon the upright I5 and the wall member I9 is adapted to releasably hold said wall member in the vertical closed position. I

Transportation of the device is facilitated by wheels 25. The wheels 25 at one end of the device are journalled upon axles 26 carried within brackets 21 suitably secured to the floor member I3, whereas the wheels at the opposite end of the device form parts of castor units of which the bracket portions 28 have a swivel connection with the bottom wall I3 in the well known manner. A pull rope 29 has opposite of its ends projected inwardly through openings 30 near the upper edge of the end wall I and knotted to prevent their withdrawal outwardly through these openings. A lift rope 3| has its ends similarly associated with the end wall I I.

The form of a house is characterized by the device to a greater extent when viewed from its back side while the members I and I8 are disposed respectively in their inclined and elevated positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Means for maintaining the members I6 and I8 in this position is in the form of notches 32 and 33 in the upper edges of the end walls I0 and II, which notches serve as seats for the lower edge of the member I8 and thus prevent accidental displacement of this member as a prop and unexpected collapse of the device. As viewed in Fig. 2 the inclined member I6 simulates a house roof and the plan is augmented by window shutters 34 which are connected by hinges 35 (shown diagrammatically) to their respective sides of window openings 36 and 31. These shutters 34 may be pivoted upon their hinges 35 for closing said windows and diagrammatically shown latch means 38 are provided for holding the shutters 34 in either the opened or closed position.

Additional openings 39 and 40 in the lower portion of the rear wall I2 are closable by door members 4I and 42 which are pivotally connected with the cabinet by means of strap hinges 43 at the lower edges of said openings 39 and 49. Latch means 44 (shown diagrammaticallyl may be provided for holding the doors in their closed positions, but when these doors are open and allowed to rest their outer edges upon the supporting surface for the device as illustrated in Fig. 2, they serve as ramps upon which toys may be advanced to and from the iloor I3. It is proposed, for example, that the lower story section of the compartment into which entrance is obtained through the opening 39 would serve as a stable in which toy horses or other animals may be stored, while the opening 40 leads into a section of the lower story that may be used as a garage for toy vehicles.

In Fig. 4 the front wall member I9 is shown in I the lowered position where it may serve as a ramp in the manner as explained with respect to the doors 4I and 42. If desired, all of the doors 4I, 42 and I 9 may be lowered concurrently for serving as ramps whereby the toys may be placed in or taken from either side of the device or transported through the device as a tunnel.

With the device or structure adjusted as .shown in Fig. 1 the upper story compartment may serve as the living quarters of a doll house or as a miniature stage. When the second story is employed as a stage, use is made of stage wing members 45 and 46 which are connected to the end walls I0 and II by means of hinges 41 and 48. Said hinges permit adjustment of the wing members selectively into positions such as those illustrated by the dot-dash lines 49 and 50. Manipulation of the stage or play house characters upon the floor I4 may be accomplished by a child or other person disposed rearwardly of the device while reaching inwardly through either or both of the windows 36 and 31 with his hands.

l Ordinarily, while the device is being used as a miniature stage, a piece of fabric such as tapestry or a blanket (not shown) will be draped over the top of the device for decorative purposes and for the further purpose of excluding light that otherwise would reach the stage through the end openings bounded by adjacent edges as 5I, 52 and 53 of the members I0, I6 and I8. It will be observed that the superstructure consisting of the elevated parts I6 and I8 will conceal from the stage audience or spectators the body of the operator whose hands are thrust through the windows 36 and 31,

The device may be quickly converted from a doll house or stage as illustrated in Fig. 1 into a seat having a back rest generally designated 54 in Fig. 3. This is done by pivoting the member I6 upwardly about the pintles of the hinges I1 to a position slightly past center whereby it will remain substantially upright by the force of gravity. Concurrently with the displacement of the member I6 upwardly into the position for forming said back rest the member I8 will pivot about the pintles of the hinges Ilia to also occuply the position shown in Fig. 3. At this time the stage wing members 45 and 46 may be swung inwardly against the end walls Ill and I I to clear the member I4 which then serves as the bench portion of the seat.

Another adjustment of the device makes it possible to form a nat top desk as illustrated in Fig. 4. Here the top I6 is allowed to rest atly upon the upper edges of the end walls I0 and II while the member I8 is swung upwardly and outwardly upon the hinges IIa into a common plane with the member I6. This position of the member I8 is maintained by the stage wings 45 and 46 which are then swung outwardly upon their hinges 41 and 48 to 'carry their upper edges 55 and 56 into engagement with the then underside of said member I8. At this time the wing members 45 and 46 will be aligned in planes respectively common with the end walls I0 and II, whereby the back or hinged edges of these wing members bear against the forward edges of said i wall members while rigidly supporting the member I8 and objects that may be placed thereon. The member I8, if desired, may be supported in such horizontal position by'any standard means as for instance a bar (not shown) mounted upon the under side of the member I6 or upon one of the walls I0 or II for axial movement to and from a position beneath the member I8.

Attention is also directed to the utility of the device as an easel or sloping reading desk when arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1, the top member I6 then serving as the working surface therefor. A cleat 51 prevents pencils, papers and books or the like from rolling or sliding from the inclined working surface.

When the device is closed as illustrated in Fig. 5 it has the appearance of and may serve as a chest in which the toys or other articles may be kept, it being designed with the view of encouraging children to arrange their toys therein in an orderly fashion. Ordinarily toys as dolls and furniture would be stored in the second story compartment whereas toys as vehicles and animals would be put away in the lower story compartment.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the single embodiment herein disclosed, but extends to otherv arrangements, details and structures falling within the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side walls, a bottom wall and a top Wall, one of said side Walls having a window opening therein and thus constituting a Window wall, a planar member forming said top wall, means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotal movement about an `axis adjacent to and substantially parallelwith an upper edge portion of said window wall, a second planar member forming a side wall opposite to said window Wall and having an upper section connected with an adjacent section of the srt planar member, and said planar members being displaceable about said pivotal connecting means incident to inclining the first planar member upwardly from said window wall to effect a sloping roof serviceable as an easel and incident to lifting the second planar member to` expose the interior of said compartment as a miniature stage, and means for releasably maintaining said members respectively in their inclined and elevated positions.

2. In a device o-f the class described, a compartment including side Walls, a bottom wall and a tcp wall, one of said side walls having a window opening therein, a planar member forming `said top wall, means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel with an upper edge portion of one of said side walls, a second planar member forming at least a portion of a side Wall oppo` site to the last named one of said side walls and having an upper section connected with an 4adjacent section of the iirst planar member, said planar members being displaceable about said pivotalconnecting means incident to inclining the first planar member upwardly to effect a sloping roof and incident to lifting the second planar member to expose the interior of said compartment as a miniature stage, and means for releasably maintaining said members respectively in their inclined and elevated positions, and said window opening being sufliciently large to receive the hand and forearm of a manipulator of figures upon said stage.

3. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side walls, a bottom wall and a top Wall, one of said side walls having a window opening therein and thus constituting a window wall, a planar member forming said top wall, means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel with an upper edge portion of said window wall, a second planar member forming a side wall opposite to said Window wall, and means pivotally connecting the upper `edge of the second planar member with an adjacent portion of the rst planar member, and said planar members being displaceable about said pivotal connecting means incident to inclining the iirst planar member upwardly from said window wall to eect a sloping roof and incident to lifting the second planar` member to expose the interior of said compartment as a miniature stage.

4. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, one of said side walls having a window opening therein and thus constituting a window wall, a planar member forming said top Wall, means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel with an upper edge portion of said window wall, a second planar member forming aside wall opposite to said window wall, means connecting the upper edge of the second planar member with an adjacent section of the first planar member for'facilitating relative pivotal movement between said members about an axis substantially parallel with `the first axis, said planar members being displaceable about said pivotal connecting means incident to inclining the first planar member upwardly from the window wall to effect a sloping roof serviceable as an easel and incident to lifting the second planar member to expose the interior of said compartment as a miniature stage, and means upon certain of said walls engageable with the second planar member for maintaining said members respectively in their inclined and elevated positions.

5. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side Walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, one of said side walls having a Window opening therein and thus constituting a window wall, a planar member forming said top wall, means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel with an upper edge portion of said Window wall, a second planar member forming a side Wall opposite to said Window wall and having an upper section connected with an adjacent sec-` tion of the first planar member, and said planar members being displaceable about said pivotal connecting means incident to inclining the first planar member upwardly from said window wall to effect a sloping roof serviceable as an easel and incident to lifting the second planar member to expose the interior of said compartment as a miniature stage, means for releasably maintaining said members respectively in their inclined and elevated positions, and stage wing members pivotally connected with side walls at opposite edges of said stage and for pivotal movement about vertical axes.

6. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, one of said side walls having a window opening therein and thus constituting a Window wall, a planar member forming said top wall, means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially par-` allel with an upper edge portion of said window wall, a second planar member forming a side wall opposite to said window wall, means connecting the upper edge of the second planar member with an adjacent section of the first planar member for facilitating relative pivotal movement between said members about an axis substantially parallel with the first axis, said planar members being displaceable about said pivotal connecting means incident to inclining the first member upwardly from the window wall to effect a sloping roof and incident to lifting the second planar member to expose the interior of said compartment as a miniature stage, means for releasably maintaining said members respectively in the inclined and elevated positions, stage wing members, additional pivotal connecting means respectively securing said Wing members to walls of said compartment at opposite ends of the stage and for pivotal movement about vertical axes substantially at the front of said stage, the second of said pivotal connecting means also being adapted to permit outward and upward pivotal movement of the second planarl member for bringing' said members substantially within a common plane while the first of said members is in the horizontal whereby said members complementally effect a flat top working surface, .and said stage wing members being pivotal about said additional connecting means outwardly of the stage and into position beneath the second planar member for supporting the same in said horizontal position..

7. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side walls, a top wall and superposed floors of which the upper floor divides the compartment into upper and lower stories, a planar member forming said top Wall, pivotal means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel with an upper edge portion of one of said side walls, a second planar member forming an upper story portion of the side wall opposite to said one of the side walls and connected with the'irst planar member, said planar members being displaceable about said pivotal connecting means incident `to inclining the rst planar member upwardly to effect a sloping roof for the device and incident to elevating the second planar member to expose the interior of the upper story as a miniature stage, means for releasably maintaining said planar members in such displaced positions, one of said walls having therein an opening in registry with the lower story, a door for said opening, and means connecting said door with the compartment for pivotal movement about its lower edge outwardly and downwardly to convert said door into a ramp for said opening and thus adapting the lower story for service as a miniature stable or garage.`

v 8. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side walls, a top wall and superposed iioors of which the upper floor divides the compartment into upper and lower stories, one of said side walls having a window opening therein in registry with the upper story, a planar member forming said top wall, means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotalv movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel with an upper edge portion of one of said side walls, a second planar member forming an upper story portion of the side wall opposit-e to the last named one of said side walls, said planar members being displaceable about said pivotal connecting means incident to inclining the rst planar member upwardly to effect a sloping roof for the device and incident to elevating the second planar member to expose the interior of the upper story as a miniature stage, means for maintaining said planar members in such displaced positions, said window opening being sufliciently large to receive the hand and forearm of a manipulator of figures upon such stage, one of said walls having therein an opening in registry with the lower story, a door for said opening, and means connecting said door with the compartment for pivotal movement about its lower edge outwardly and downwardly to convert said doork into a ramp for said opening and thus adapting the lower story for service as a miniature stable or garage.

9. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side walls, a top wall and superposed floors of which the upper floor divides the compartment into upper and lower stories, a planar member forming said topwall, pivotal means connecting a section of said planar mem- 5,0; the rst planar member upwardly to eect a soy ber with said compartment for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel with an upper edge portion of one of said side walls, a second planar member forming an upper story portion of the side wall opposite to said one 'of the side walls, pivotal means connecting an upper edge section of the second` to elevating the second planar member to expose the interior of the upper story as a miniature stage, means for releasably maintaining said members in their displaced position, said pivotal connecting means being also adapted to permit displacement of said members substantially into a common horizontal plane to mutually effect a at top working surface, means for supporting said members in said horizontal plane, one of said walls having therein an opening in registry with the lower story, a door for said opening, and means connecting said door with the compartment for pivotal movement about its lower edge outwardly and downwardly to convert said door into a ramp for said opening and thus adapting the lower story for service as a miniature stable or garage.

10. In a device of the class described, a compartment including side walls, a top wall and superposed oors of which the upper floor divides the compartment into upper and lower stories, a planar member forming said top wall, pivotal means connecting a section of said planar member with said compartment for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel with an upper edge portion of one of said side walls, a second planar member forming an upper story portion of the side wall opposite to said one of the sid-e walls, pivotal means connecting an upper edge section of the second planar memi ber with the first planar member to adapt relative movement of said members about an axis substantiallyA parallel with the rst axis, said planar members being displaceablev about said pivotal connecting means incident to inclining sloping roof for the device and incident to elevating the second planar member to expose the interior of the upper story as a miniature stage, means for releasably maintaining said members in their displaced position, the second of said pivotal connecting means being also adapted to permit outward and upward pivotal movement of the second planar member for bringing said members substantially into a common horizontal plane to mutually effect a flat top working surface, stage wing members, additional pivotal connecting means respectively securing said wing members to said compartment at opposite ends of the stage and for pivotal movement about vertical axes at the front of said stage, said wing members being pivotal about said additional connecting means outwardly of the stage and into position beneath the second planar member for supporting the same in said horizontal plane, one of said walls having therein an opening in registry with the lower story, a door for said opening, and means connecting said door with the compartment for pivotal movement about its lower edge outwardly and downwardly to convert said door into a ramp for said opening and thus an upper story portion of the side wall opposite to said one of the side walls, said planar members being displaceable about said pivotal connecting means incident to inclining the rst planar member upwardly to effect a sloping `roof for the device and incident to elevating the second planar member to expose the interior of the upper story as a miniature stage, means for releasably maintaining said planar members in such displaced positions, the upper of said oors also being serviceable as a seat, and said planar members being further displaceable upwardly and back- Wardly about the first pivotal connecting means to expose said upper floor as a seat and to effect a back rest therefor.

12. In a structure of the class described, a cornpartment including side walls, a top wall and superposed floors of which the upper :door divides the compartment into upper and lower stories, articulated members respectively forming said top Wall and the upper story portion of one of the side Walls, pivotal means connecting the top wall member with the structure for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel with and adjacent to* the upper edge of the side wall opposite to said one side wall, said members being displaceable about said pivotal means incident to inclining the top wall member to effect a sloping roof for the structure and incident to elevating the other member i to expose the upper story as a miniature stage, means for releasably maintaining said members in such displaced positions, the upper of said oors also i being serviceable as a seat and said members being further displaceable upwardly and backwardlyabout said pivotal means toexpose said oor as such seat, one of said walls having therein an opening in registry with the lower story, a door for said opening, and means connecting said door with the compartment for pivotal movement about its lower edge outwardly and downwardly to convert said door into a ramp for said opening and thus adapting the lower story for service as a miniature stable or garage.

MARY B. GREER. 

